Authors

Affiliations

JPL - Caltech

Abstract

JPL has been incubating the vector vortex coronagraph (VVC) for
3 years, and took it from a theoretical concept to a fully functional
device available for immediate use behind existing telescopes. We chose to
exploit the liquid crystal polymer (LCP) technology to render the VVC phase
ramp, successfully so far. After reaching a series of important milestones,
such as 1e-7 raw contrasts and the imaging of exoplanets from the ground,
we are now working on pushing the envelope of the LCP technology to meet
specific needs for future large ground-based telescopes and small
space-based telescopes, respectively. Those needs include better contrast
performance, and achromaticity, as well as immunity against central
obscuration and low-order aberrations. I will report on the status of those
developments and up-to-date lab results in the near-infrared and visible on
JPL’s high contrast imaging testbeds.